Match safe



B. F. HAMILTON MATCH SAFE June 29, 1937.

Filed Dec. 12, 1935 10 the base of th UNETE S Zfiitidii PATNT FFECE MATCH SAFE Bertis F. Hamilton, Columbus, Ind.

Application December 12,

1935, Serial No. 54,013

3 Claims. (01. 20620I It is the object of device suitable for picks, or similar arti such a manner that t one at a time. to produce a d simply and e which will be a In carrying my invention to produce a containing -matches, toothcles and for holding them in hey may be easily withdrawn More specifically, it is my object evice of this kind which can be conomically manufactured and ttractive in appearance. ut my invention I preferably form e device of some relatively heavy as cast iron, in order to increase stability, and on this base I support the container proper, which conveniently is formed of sheet metal. The bottom of the container is formed by twodownwardly converging walls one of which is cut away to provide access for a thumb or finger used in grasping the articles which the box contains. The box may have any desired number of compartments for the reception of various articles.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a complete device embodying a compartment for matches to be dispensed, a compartment for toothpicks to be dispensed, and a burnt-match compartment located above the toothpick compartment; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4; Fig.- 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an isometric view illustrating the manner in which the parts of the sheet-metal container are formed and assembled; and Fig. 6 is a fragmental section illustrating the means by which the sheet-metal container is supported on the base.

As previously indicated,- the container illustrated in the drawing contains two compartments for articles to be dispensed. The vertical walls of 1 the container III are conveniently formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent in rectangular form, the container being divided interiorly by a vertically extending sheet-metal partition II having along its side edges flanges which may be secured to the front and back walls of the container-body, as by spot-welding. The open upper end of the container is closed by a cover I2, the edges of which are turned downwardly at right angles to engage the outer surfaces of the vertical walls of the container-body I 0. Between the center partition II and each end wall of the container I cut out and bend inwardly into an inclined position a tongue I3, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, thus leaving for each of the compartments of the container an opening in the front wall material, such through which ar be withdrawn.

The bottom of each com tainer is formed by a pie bent medially along a lon trough sh ticles within the container may partment of the conce of sheet-metal I l gitudinal line into a 5 ape. The extreme rear edge of each of wardly into a flange I5 adapted to be secured to the inner face of the back wall of the container-body III, as by spotwelding. The front edge of the sheet-metal bot- 10 tom I4 is provided with a notch I6 extending inwardly approximately to the bottom of the trough which the sheet-metal member I4 forms, and the front edges of the sheet-metal members I4, on opposite sides of the notch I S, are bent downwardly to provide flanges I1. In cutting the notch I6 in the blank from which the bottom I4 is formed, I provide triangular flaps I8 on each side of the notch, such flaps in the finished bottom being bent into a vertical plane as indicated in Fig. 5.

The strip of metal lying between the bottom of the front wall and the lower edge of the opening formed by the inward bending of each tongue I3 is cut through at a central point, and the material on each side of the cut is bent inwardly and back upon itself to form a tongue I9 spaced from the front wall of the container-body II to: provide for the reception of one of the flanges I I at the front edge of the bottom-piece I 4. In Fig. 5, the bottom piece I4 is illustrated in finished form above the position it will occupy. When the bottompiece I4 is lowered, the flanges I! will be received between the front wall of the container-body Ill and the inwardly bent tongues IS. The final position of the bottom piece I4 will be determined by engagement of the upper edges of the tongues I9 with the lower surface of the bottom piece along the line on which the flanges I? are bent; and the lower edges of the flaps I8 will be disposed substantially in the end plane of the container-body.

The base of the container, as previously indicated, is preferably in the form of an iron casting 2 I. Conveniently, the base is formed beneath each of the notches I6 with a depression 22 to facilitate the entrance of the thumb or finger used in grasping one of the articles supported on the bottom-piece I I. To secure the containerbody I0 to the base 2|, each of the bottom-pieces I4 may be provided wtih an opening 23 for the passage of a bolt 24 extending through the wall of the base 2i, as indicated in Fig. 6.

If desired, one of the compartments into which e container is divided by the partition II may be subdivided by a horizontal partition 25 defining the bottom of a burnt-match compartment. If this is done, the cover H above the burnt-match compartment is provided with an 5 opening 25 along the side edges of which are disposed b-aiiles 21 and 28 such as set forth in my prior Patent No. 2,008,016. If the device is to be used to dispense matches and toothpicks, the partition 25 is desirably located in the toothpick compartment.

The match compartment may be filled by removing the cover l2, and the matches inserted. If desired, the match compartment may be made large enough to receive the match box, the end of which has been torn out to permit the matches to drop into engagement with the bottom M of the compartment. The toothpick compartment may be filled by laying the device on its back and introducing the toothpicks through the opening in the front wall. 7

When the device is in erect position, the toothpicks and matches will be supported on the inclined ledges formed by these portions of the bottom piece M at the sides of the notch I6, and some of them will bridge each notch l6 where they are in a position such that they can be readily grasped. The tongue I3 prevents the toothpicks or matches from spilling outwardly through the opening in the front wall of each compartment.

Conveniently, the front surface of the base 2| is provided with a roughened pad 30 on which matches may be struck.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a device of the type described, a sheetmetal container having a substantially vertical front wall, a bottom for said container and also formed of sheet-metal, the front wall of said container being provided above its lower edge with a horizontally extending opening the material from which is bent along the upper edge of the opening to provide a downwardly and rearwardly extending baflie, the material of said front wall between its lower edge and said opening being severed at an intermediate point and the material on each side of the point of severe ance being bent back upon itself to form tongues spaced inwardly from the front wall of the box, portions of the front edge of said bottom being turned downwardly to form flanges received between said tongues and the front wall of the container, said bottom being provided with a notch extending 'rearwardly from said flanges and the opening left in the front wall of the box by the folding of said tongues co-operating with said notch to provide access from below to articles supported on the across the notch.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the bottom and extending addition of a base for said container and means for securing the container bottom to said base,

said bottom being trough-shaped and having an inwardly extending notch between said flanges, the sides of said notch being formed with inwardly extending triangular portions bent downwardly to close the gap between said bottom and said base.

3 The invention set forth in claim 1 with the. addition of a base for said container and means for securing the container bottom to said base.

BERTIS F. HAMILTON. 

